Very disappointed with PM Modi, says Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao in rare direct attack

HYDERABAD: In one of the strongest attacks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday said he met the PM and other NDA ministers more than 20 times to address farmers’ issues, but without result.

“I met Modi and other ministers at least 20 times. I requested them to link MGNREGA with agriculture. But they didn’t respond. I even mentioned it to chief economic advisor to the NDA government, Arvind Subramanian, who met me recently. They only listen, but do nothing,” KCR said, while addressing a farmers’ associations meeting in Karimnagar on Monday.

“The Prime Minister has no guts to allocate more money for farmers in the budget,” Chandrasekhar Rao said. Criticising the PM, he added: “There is nothing for me to fear. Let me say I am thoroughly disappointed with Modi.”


The CM held both the Congress and the BJP accountable for the plight of farmers. “When Congress is in power, the BJP makes a hue and cry and when BJP is in power, the Congress protests. But these parties don’t work for the welfare of farmers,” he said.

KCR directed TRS MPs to take up the issue of farmers and farmer suicides in Parliament. “The matter has to be raised both in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha,” he said. Parliament’s budget session resumes on March 5.

In a marked departure from his talk on Sunday and earlier public meetings, KCR spoke about the neglected state of agriculture in the entire country. “Only 40% of available water is being used in the country. What have the Congress and BJP governments done? Is this not neglect of agriculture?” he questioned.

At the meeting, the CM said he would not accept the input subsidy for which, as a farmer, he is eligible. Agriculture minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy and finance minister E Rajendra also indicated to the CM that they would not accept the subsidy.